Waxwings, Cherry Blossoms, and Bamboo 1667 - 1682

Kiyohara Yukinobu, one of the few known female painters of the Kano school, created this painting on silk with ink and color. Yukinobu lived during the Edo period when social roles were highly prescribed by gender, and while women artists were not unheard of, they often faced significant barriers to recognition and training. In Waxwings, Cherry Blossoms, and Bamboo, Yukinobu employs traditional motifs of East Asian art. Her choice of subject matter, focusing on the natural world, could have been a strategic decision, as it allowed her to engage with established artistic conventions while perhaps avoiding more controversial or socially charged themes. The delicate rendering of the waxwings and cherry blossoms, which requires keen observation and technical skill, invites us to reflect on the artist’s personal connection to the natural world. This artwork exists as both a product of its time and a testament to Yukinobu's individual expression.